After unification near Smolensk of the 1st and 2nd Western armies the question about undivided authority arose with tremendous force. Despite prince P. I. Bagration seemed to admit the leadership of War Minister M. B. Barclay de Tolly, the struggle inside generals' factions was going on. The situation was exacerbated by the diametrically opposed views of Commanders-in-Chief of both armies on the ways of continuation of the war.
Against the background of retreat of the united Russian armies deeper and deeper into historically Russian lands, the genuine discontent in the society was growing. The credibility of Barclay de Tolly as a leader weakened significantly, people were talking about ‘treason’.
On the 8(20) of August Emperor Alexander I appointed prince M. I. Golenishchev- Kutuzov, General from infantry, a Commander-in- Chief of all the armies and volunteer corps, which were fighting against Napoleon. The hopes for better in a seemingly catastrophic situation were linked with the figure of a venerable old man who was in a blaze of glory of his victories in the Catherine’s times. That’s why the Emperor who didn’t like Kutuzov had to take such a decision.
On the 17(29) of August Kutuzov arrived to the troops in Tsarevo-Zaimishche village of Smolensk province. He was met joyfully, the soldiers tired of two months' retreat linked his name with the possibility of giving a decisive battle to the enemy. However, Kutuzov didn’t want to fight on the position which had been chosen by Barclay, finding it ill-suited for a battle.
On the 19 (31) of August the united Russian armies went on retreating to Moscow. A new place for the decisive battle was found on the border of Moscow province, in the surroundings of Borodino village not far from Mozhaysk.
On the 22 of August (3rd of September) 1812 the army of Kutuzov started to occupy positions here and prepare for the battle. Russian army blocked the main communication- New Smolensk road preventing the enemy from a further march to Moscow. The right wing was blocked by Koloch River. The left wing was more vulnerable. Several fortifications were constructed to strengthen this position, which became the strongholds of defence.
The complex of memorial objects is represented with several exhibits among which are an over shoulder ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the First -Called, a rosary and a bullet, which wounded Colonel Khlopov during the Battle of Borodino.
The ribbon decorated Bagration’s tunic during the day of Borodino Battle. Piotr Ivanovich got the Order of St. Andrew the First -Called in 1809 for his command of Danube army during Russian-Turkish War. Seriously injured near Borodino, he died on the 12th of September 1812.
The rosary of a monastery work belonged to Margarita Mikhailovna, a wife of General A. A. Tuchkov who after her husband’s death near Borodino built the Cathedral of the Saviour on the place of the battle and later founded Spaso-Borodinsky Convent where in 1840 took a veil and then became its superioress.
The bullet, which wounded Colonel I. E. Khlopov, was removed out of his spine in Vienna on the 3rd of August 1840 and placed in the framing of silver and lead with gilding and stamping. The engraving on the smooth part of the framing informs about a date of wounding and operation.
Against the background of retreat of the united Russian armies deeper and deeper into historically Russian lands, the genuine discontent in the society was growing. The credibility of Barclay de Tolly as a leader weakened significantly, people were talking about ‘treason’.
On the 8(20) of August Emperor Alexander I appointed prince M. I. Golenishchev- Kutuzov, General from infantry, a Commander-in- Chief of all the armies and volunteer corps, which were fighting against Napoleon. The hopes for better in a seemingly catastrophic situation were linked with the figure of a venerable old man who was in a blaze of glory of his victories in the Catherine’s times. That’s why the Emperor who didn’t like Kutuzov had to take such a decision.
On the 17(29) of August Kutuzov arrived to the troops in Tsarevo-Zaimishche village of Smolensk province. He was met joyfully, the soldiers tired of two months' retreat linked his name with the possibility of giving a decisive battle to the enemy. However, Kutuzov didn’t want to fight on the position which had been chosen by Barclay, finding it ill-suited for a battle.
On the 19 (31) of August the united Russian armies went on retreating to Moscow. A new place for the decisive battle was found on the border of Moscow province, in the surroundings of Borodino village not far from Mozhaysk.
On the 22 of August (3rd of September) 1812 the army of Kutuzov started to occupy positions here and prepare for the battle. Russian army blocked the main communication- New Smolensk road preventing the enemy from a further march to Moscow. The right wing was blocked by Koloch River. The left wing was more vulnerable. Several fortifications were constructed to strengthen this position, which became the strongholds of defence.
The complex of memorial objects is represented with several exhibits among which are an over shoulder ribbon of the Order of St. Andrew the First -Called, a rosary and a bullet, which wounded Colonel Khlopov during the Battle of Borodino.
The ribbon decorated Bagration’s tunic during the day of Borodino Battle. Piotr Ivanovich got the Order of St. Andrew the First -Called in 1809 for his command of Danube army during Russian-Turkish War. Seriously injured near Borodino, he died on the 12th of September 1812.
The rosary of a monastery work belonged to Margarita Mikhailovna, a wife of General A. A. Tuchkov who after her husband’s death near Borodino built the Cathedral of the Saviour on the place of the battle and later founded Spaso-Borodinsky Convent where in 1840 took a veil and then became its superioress.
The bullet, which wounded Colonel I. E. Khlopov, was removed out of his spine in Vienna on the 3rd of August 1840 and placed in the framing of silver and lead with gilding and stamping. The engraving on the smooth part of the framing informs about a date of wounding and operation.
